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Amid all the darkness concerning Notre Dame's decision to honor President Obama, there has been some light including the number of bishops speaking out. But so many of the students have shown themselves to be conscientious, diligent and resourceful and, of course, pro-life that they've encouraged a great deal of people about the future of Notre Dame. Many of the students will be gathering in the Grotto instead of attending their Commencement:

Notre Dame University seniors who have decided not to attend their commencement ceremony in protest of the university's decision to grant President Barack Obama an honorary law degree will instead hold a meditation in the university's grotto at 2 p.m. on May 17, to coincide with the official commencement. ND Response, the student-led coalition that is planning the meditation, says Notre Dame should not be honoring a political figure who supports abortion and stem cell research.

"It's not a political issue; this is an issue of human dignity, and it's a Catholic issue," said Greer Hannan, a Notre Dame graduating senior. "As a Catholic university, we need to stand up for it." The meditation, which will be led by Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, is part of a two-day rally that has been officially sanctioned by the university. The evening of May 16, bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese, Rev. John D'Arcy, will lead a candlelight prayer vigil for graduating seniors and their families to pray for an end to abortion and embryo research.